WARRENSBURG, Mo. (March 26, 2016) -- The Mules rallied from three runs down in the seventh inning to beat Northwest Missouri 8-7 on Saturday afternoon at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field and complete the series sweep.
The Mules (15-8, 13-3 MIAA) jumped on top 4-0 with a pair of runs in each of the first two innings.
Jake Alexander hit a two-run home run to right field in the first inning and
Dylan Farrell added a two-run double in the second.
The Bearcats (13-13, 8-8 MIAA) tied the game with four runs in the fourth. Aaron Barratt had a two-run double to start the NWMSU scoring, Kolby Greenslade added an RBI groundout and a UCM fielding error allowed the fourth run to come home..
Northwest Missouri went in front with three more runs in the sixth. Greenslade had an RBI fielder's choice and Ozzie Adams added a two-run double to give the Bearcats a 7-4 lead.
The Mules rallied in the seventh to tie the game at 7-all.
Derek Cornell had a sacrifice fly to plate the first run and
Cole Distler belted a two-out, two-run home to right field to tie the game.
UCM went in front 8-7 in the bottom of the eighth. Farrell had a perfectly placed bunt down the third base line that brought home
Jackson Schnurbusch with the go-ahead run.
Grant Gavin come on in the ninth and got a pair of groundouts and a strikeout for his fourth save of the season.
Andy Muehlberger (1-0) picked up his first win as a Mule after tossing 1.1 innings of one-hit relief. Over the last two games of the series, Muehlberger pitched three innings of one-hit relief and threw just 26 pitches.
JJ Benes also pitched an inning of scoreless relief.
Carson Smith (3-3) took the loss for Northwest Missouri after allowing one run on three hits in one inning of relief.
Farrell finished the day 4-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and a pair of runs scored. Alexander and Schnurbusch had two hits apiece and Distler drove in a pair.
The Mules are back in action on Wednesday night, March 30, hosting Lindenwood at 6 p.m. at Crane Stadium. The game can be heard live on 1450 KOKO and warrensburgradio.com with
Bob Jackson and
Ricky Rivera on the call.
